New Delhi: A Maharashtra BJP leader has joined the ongoing cacophony of dissent against the Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone starrer “Pathaan” that is to release next month.
MLA Ram Kadam tweeted Friday that no film or serial “insulting Hindutva” would be allowed to screen in Maharashtra.
द्वारा कही जा रही है .उस पर स्पष्टतासे अपना रुख बयान करे .
पर यह निश्चित है . महाराष्ट्र के भूमी पर #हिंदुत्व का अपमान करने वाली कोई भी फिल्म हो या सिरीयल हो. वह चल नही पायेगी.
JNUधारी क्या ज़नेउ धारी विचारधारा को जानबूझकर आहत करनेका क्या ये दुस्साहस है ?
जय श्रीराम
— Ram Kadam (@ramkadam) December 16, 2022
He said Hindu organisations, including its saints, and “crores of people” have strongly protested against the film on social media. “Maharashtra has a government that believes in the Hindutva ideology. It would be better if the filmmakers come forward and clarify their stand on the objections raised by saints, mahatmas, Hindu organisations and crores of people,” he said.
“Are the JNU-dhaari (those who stand with the Jawaharlal Nehru University) deliberately and audaciously trying to hurt the ideology of the janeu-dhaari (Hindu brahmins who wear the sacred thread)?” Kadam asked in a clear reference to Deepika Padukone’s 2020 visit to the university campus during protests against the Centre’s Citizenship Amendment Act.
On Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra had objected to the song “Besharam Rang”, criticising the “costumes” worn in it — Deepika is seen in various swimsuits – and said the song reflected a “dirty mindset”.
Mishra’s statement came two days after the filmmakers dropped the song, featuring Deepika and Shah Rukh Khan. Deepika wears a saffron bikini top and wraparound in the end, while SRK donned a green shirt when the song opened.
Mishra further said: “I advise the filmmakers to fix the objectionable parts of the song. Earlier, Deepika Padukone had stood in support of the ‘Tukde Tukde Gang’ at JNU. Her mentality was exposed. I believe the song’s title ‘Besharam Rang’ is also objectionable.
Also, the way the colours saffron and green have been used in the costumes is objectionable. Changes need to be made, failing which we will take a call on whether the film should be screened in Madhya Pradesh,” he added.
On Thursday, President of the Madhya Pradesh Ulema Board Syed Anas Ali, had also said, “The sentiments of the Muslim community have been hurt by this film. We will not allow this film to be released, not just in Madhya Pradesh but across the country.”
“The ‘Pathaans’ are one of the most respectable Muslim communities. Not just the ‘Pathaans’, but the entire Muslim community is being defamed in this film. The name of the film is ‘Pathan’ and women are seen performing obscene dances in it. ‘Pathaans’ are being portrayed wrongly in the film,” he added.
Ali demanded that the makers rename the film, and SRK also change his name. “After that, you can do whatever you want,” Ali said, threatening to file an FIR if his diktat was not followed.
Shah Rukh Khan reacted to the controversy surrounding the film on Thursday, while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 28th International Kolkata Film Festival.
He said: “Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self… I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption… Such pursuits enclose collective narrative making it divisive & destructive.”
Khan said no matter what the world did, “people like us will always stay positive”.
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